How To Apply Eye Cream And When Should You Apply It?

Prevent dark circles, puffiness, and fine lines from ruining the delicate skin around your eyes.

Reviewed by Simone de Vlaming, Beauty Expert
Written by Sushmita Barman, MA (English Literature)
Edited by Madhumati Chowdhury, MA (English Literature)
Fact-checked by Sangita Goel, MA  • 

Our eyes go through a lot in today’s world — they brave sleepless nights, stress, extended screen time, pollution, and early aging. Thus, we should know how to apply eye creams to give them the much-needed care and keep them bright and shiny. Fresh-looking eyes are a mirror to our healthy lifestyle and reflect our confidence and personality. And we are sure you would want such rejuvenated eyes, too! So, check out this article for all the information you will need on eye creams, how to apply them, and their benefits. Keep scrolling!

What Is Eye Cream?

So, let us begin with the fundamental question! What is an eye cream and why do we need it? But before that, let us dive deep into the need for a product as such in the first place. The skin around the eyes, called a periorbital area or an eye contour area in simple terms, is very sensitive. To be precise, the skin around your eyes is one of the most sensitive areas compared to the rest of your face. Hence, it needs special attention. The signs of aging can also be observed in this particular area easily at the beginning itself. Now, that gives you another reason to pay more attention to this! So getting back to what an eye cream is. It is basically a nourishing cream for the eyes that is often used in the eye contour area to reduce dark circles, eye puffiness and make the entire face look brighter eventually. So, are eye creams necessary for you? You know they are because we often come across those aforementioned eye issues in our lives no matter what.

Now, we will list a few ingredients that you can look for in an eye cream.

  • Look for vitamin C or niacinamide that are widely used in skincare products. Most eye creams also have this content in order to protect the eye from future damage.
  • Caffeine and vitamin K are the ingredients that can help in facilitating blood circulation and reducing swelling or puffiness.
  • Hyaluronic acid and shea butter are also commonly seen in face care products. These are agents to moisturize and hydrate the skin.
protip_icon Pro Tip
Cold tea bags, grated cucumber or potato, and cold milk can be used to naturally reduce undereye puffiness and lighten the skin.

When Should I Start Using Eye Cream?

Guess your first stage doubts on the eye cream are sorted now. Let us get to the frequently asked question, which is, “Do I need an eye cream?” or “When to start using eye cream?” As per expert opinions, it is better to start using the eye cream as early as possible. Somewhere in from your 20s. Yes, since prevention is better than cure, investing in a good eye cream early is essential. Here are a few more tips on why you should invest in an eye cream:

  • As we said, the eye contour area is a thin layer of skin and hence vulnerable to more allergies and sensitive reactions. Eye cream products in this area with subtle agents prevent such reactions.
  • Your eyes are working almost throughout the day. From talking to smiling to expressing, your eyes are working, and the skin around the eyes is moving too. We may not pay attention to this, but regular stress can lead to dryness and loss of elasticity. This is one of the reasons that create wrinkles. So, eye creams for the rescue.
  • The eye cream also protects from harmful UV rays, smoke that are also contributors to wrinkles.

How To Apply Eye Cream

For the folks who are entirely new to the concept of eye cream, here are the tips you are waiting for on how to use eye cream. And those who already know how to use one, you can have a look at these too for more information.

  1. Grab a pea-size amount of cream with your finger. You can even dab some on the back of your hand. Dermatology experts suggest using the ring finger and not the index finger, which we use generally. This is a technique to neutralize the pressure applied that is usually lower in the index finger.
  1. Apply the cream in small dots around the lower portion of your eyes. Make sure you cover the inner corner portion of the eye to the eyebrow bones. Depending on the product you choose, you can even apply eye cream for upper lids. You need to be super careful while you do this.
  1. Tab in a semi-circular pattern in order to create stimulation of circulation. What needs to be noted is to be gentle enough and not make your skill pull or stretch as you do this.
  1. Applying eye cream is an important step in your skin care routine. Most people use eye cream as the last step in their skin care routine, but that is not the right order. Always apply it before applying a moisturizer. It takes at least one and a half minutes for the cream to get absorbed into your skin.

Simple and easy, isn’t it? Not as big of a deal as you think. I hope you are clear on how to apply eye cream now!

Should You Apply Eye Cream At Night Or Day?

We are here to throw some light on when is the best time to apply an eye cream! Here are a few points that you may need to follow on this routine.

  • First of all, consistency is the key. Whatever product you use, you need to use it regularly and appropriately.
  • Most eye creams are ideal to be used twice a day. This means you can say a big “yes” to “eye cream day and night.” But if the skin is too delicate to take in the cream twice, you can use it once at night a little before you go to bed. But why is nighttime better? When your body is at rest, your skin has the automatic tendency to repair and regenerate. Hence, applying eye cream at night will help in boosting the fix of anti-aging.
  • Please make a note of the ingredients in your eye cream. There are ingredients like caffeine and some reflective particles that are used as brightening agents. We have observed that an eye cream with these ingredients would work better during the day. These eye creams will also make your concealer look better! A total win-win!
protip_icon Quick Tip
If you are applying an eye cream during the day, let it absorb completely before layering on other products or makeup. This ensures the better absorption of skin care products and prevents your makeup from caking.

Benefits Of Eye Cream

So why use eye cream? Although we have already established the benefits of applying eye cream, below is a list that proves why this cream works wonders better. So, go ahead and check it out.

  • One primary reason, like we already said, is to reduce the signs of aging and wrinkles. Dehydration and environmental stress are commonly the reasons that make your eye contour area look dull. So an eye cream comes for the rescue.
  • Minimizing the puffiness of your eyes is another advantage. Your eyes tend to look puffed up after a long sleep or even if you had less sleep. Using eye cream regularly will help in reducing such reactions.
  • Then comes dark circles! Dark circles are a problem that is seen commonly among many of us. Usage of eye cream on a regular basis will minimize discoloration as a result of the botanicals present in it.
  • The hydration process of the thin skin around your eyes is different from other skin on the face. Usage of eye cream will provide precisely the kind of hydration that the eye contour area requires.
  • For those who are into eye makeup, eye cream works as an excellent primary layer while you apply concealer, giving a smooth and even look!
  • An eye cream acts as a soothing agent for tired eyes by nourishing and providing comfort to the eye contour area. The under-eye area goes through regular stress and comes into contact with outdoor elements and irritants. Using eye cream can prevent many such problems!

We hope this article on how to apply eye cream provided you with some nuggets of wisdom on the topic. Although you would need to do a bit of research to pick the right product for yourself, it is worth it. And if you are confused about which eye cream to buy, you can consult a cosmetic expert or a dermatologist to get their recommendation. So, get ready to begin your hunt and give your eyes the love they deserve. Let them shine bright for the rest of your life!

Frequently Asked Questions

Should eye cream be applied before or after moisturizer?

If your eye cream has a lighter base, apply it before your moisturizer. If your eye cream is heavy, it is generally recommended to apply it after applying a moisturizer. However, the ingredients of the eye cream work better when applied before a moisturizer.

Can I use Vaseline as an eye cream?

Yes. Vaseline is safe to use around the eyes, and it locks moisture to prevent dryness around the eyes and keep the area plump. You can apply your regular moisturizer or serum around the eyes and seal it with Vaseline.

Do I use eye serum and eye cream together?

Eye serums and eye creams serve different purposes. While eye serums contain actives that have specific benefits like reducing puffiness and hyperpigmentation. However, eye creams only moisturize and rejuvenate the skin. Therefore, if you use an eye serum, seal it with eye cream so that the serum can work better.

Can you use eye cream on your entire face?

Yes. Eye creams moisturize the delicate skin around the eye area. You may apply them to your face to get the same moisturizing effect. However, it is more cost-effective to use face cream than eye cream. Eye creams usually come in small quantities and won’t last long if you use them on your face.

Key Takeaways

  • Regularly using eye creams reduce the signs of aging, keeps the skin under your eyes hydrated, and works as the perfect base for makeup.
  • When selecting an eye cream, keep an eye out for ingredients such as vitamin C or caffeine that stimulate blood circulation under your eyes and reduce puffiness.
  • Taking a small amount of eye cream and rubbing it in a semi-circular motion under your eyes twice a day starting from your twenties allows the skin to regenerate new cells and slow down aging.


If you are still wondering how to use eye cream, here is a tutorial! Along with eye cream application, it also includes an exclusive makeup tutorial for flawless eyes and a radiant look. Check it out now!
Was this article helpful?
thumbsupthumbsdown
The following two tabs change content below.

Latest Articles